Noise from parties

A question that is often asked is ‘What time am I allowed to play music?’. Essentially under the Environmental Protection Act no hours are stipulated that are considered night time, although your tenancy agreement or lease may state hours after which no music is to be played. However in the evening when the background noise level is often lower and people are more likely to be trying to sleep they are more likely to be disturbed by noise and the problem is more likely to be reported to us.

When the Noise and Nuisance Service visit noisy parties the response to the suggestion that the party is too loud and/or too late is that it is a one off birthday, anniversary or other special occasion.

While we would have some sympathy with that view the fact is that in a typical Kensington and Chelsea flat 20 - 30 others may be physically connected to the source of the noise and that if every flat had just one party each year there would be a disturbance every other week. Generally residents are concerned about the well being of their neighbours and agree to turn the music down if we inform them that complaints have been received.